Live updates

The appointment of new Chief Constable Suzette Davenport was approved at a meeting of the Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel this afternoon.

Ms Davenport, 50, the current Deputy Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police was put forward as the preferred candidate of four who attended an interview board headed by Commissioner Martin Surl last Tuesday.

She is due to take up her new role on 4 February.

We followed the procedure set out by the College of Policing and I am delighted the Police and Crime Panel has agreed with us that Suzette is the best person for the job.

She was the outstanding candidate in a very strong field and having met with her today, the panel has confirmed our judgement. I am looking forward to working with her to provide the best possible police service for Gloucestershire.

– Martin Surl, Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner

The panel addressed issues relating to the investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into a murder inquiry in Staffordshire in 2002. From 2005 to 2007, Ms Davenport was Assistant Chief Constable there.

The IPCC investigation is a matter of public record and I have been completely open about it throughout the recruitment process.

I made the interview board fully aware of it and, where possible, I have answered questions from the media.

As I have said before, until the investigation is completed I am restricted in what I can say but I am confident there will be a positive outcome.

In the meantime, I am grateful to the Police Commissioner for his support and the endorsement of the Police and Crime Panel.

The whole process has restored my faith in fairness and justice and I am very much looking forward to starting my new job.

I am very proud and excited to be coming to Gloucestershire and having met a number of my new colleagues already, I can’t wait to get started.

The review panel which has confirmed Suzette Davenport as Gloucestershire's next Chief Constable says it's not happy about the way the appointment was carried out.

"The Police and Crime Panel accept the recommendation of the Police and Crime Commissioner for the appointment of Suzette Davenport as Gloucestershire’s Chief Constable, subject to her categorical assurances regarding the IPCC investigation.

However, the Police and Crime Panel must record our serious concerns over the appointment process undertaken by the Commissioner’s office. We believe that the issue of the IPCC investigation was not properly considered.

Specifically, interview panel members did not have sufficient information to balance the candidate’s performance against the risks to Gloucestershire Constabulary. The Panel have subsequently explored these issues, including being appraised of all available information.”

Advertisement

Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Panel has confirmed that Suzette Davenport is to be the county's next Chief Constable. The 49-year-old was one of four candidates interviewed to head the 2207-strong constabulary.

Ms Davenport, currently deputy chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, will take up her role on 1 February. The panel has attached a number of conditions to her appointment.

Gloucestershire's new Chief Constable has been announced and for the first time in the force's 174-year history, a woman has been given the top job.

Suzette Davenport, who's currently deputy chief constable of Northamptonshire, will take over next month. It follows the resignation of Michael Matthews who is leaving after only six months to take up a new policing job in Cyprus.

Earlier we spoke to the new Chief Constable from Police Headquaters in Quedgely.

Suzette Davenport with the former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in 2008 Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Gloucestershire's new Chief Constable has been announced. Suzette Davenport, who's deputy chief constable of Northamptonshire, will take over next month. It follows the resignation of Michael Matthews who is leaving after only six months to take up a job in Cyprus.